Queensland’s New Rental Laws Kick In 1 May 2025: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
Nik Seirlis ·
Why another round of reforms?
The State Government’s 2024 amendments to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 were rolled out in three waves. The final wave starts tomorrow, Thursday 1 May 2025 and aims to improve transparency around rent-payment benefits, strengthen privacy safeguards and give tenants more certainty about property access.
1. Rent and other payments
Mandatory benefit disclosure
If a landlord, agent or third-party platform receives any financial benefit such as cash-back, commission, rebate or other consideration from a rent-payment method they recommend, this must be disclosed to the tenant in writing before the tenancy agreement is signed. Non-compliance attracts a fine of up to 20 penalty units (approximately $3,200 at current values).
2. Balancing privacy and access
48-hour entry notice
For routine inspections, maintenance or viewings, the minimum notice period increases from 24 hours to 48 hours. Emergency access provisions remain unchanged. Owners will need to schedule contractors earlier; tenants receive an additional day’s certainty.
Two entries per week after a Notice to Leave
Once a Form 12 (Notice to Leave) or Form 13 (Intention to Leave) has been issued, access to the premises is limited to two visits in any seven-day period unless the tenant expressly agrees to more.
Stronger controls on personal information
Managing parties may request only the data fields listed on the new standard application form and no more than two supporting documents in each category (identity, ability to pay, suitability). Unsuccessful applications must be securely destroyed after three months; tenancy files after seven years. Original identity documents may be sighted but not retained without consent.
3. Standardised rental application
The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) has released Form 22 (general tenancies) and Form R22 (rooming accommodation). These forms, or exact replicas, are now compulsory.
Prospective tenants must be given at least two ways to lodge an application, and one option must be genuinely unrestricted, for example, email or hard-copy submission rather than a paid third-party platform.
4. Fixtures and structural changes
Tenants must submit requests for fixtures or alterations on Form 23.
Owners or agents have 28 days to approve, refuse or propose conditions. If no response is provided within that timeframe, the tenant may apply to QCAT for an order. Where body-corporate approval is required, the same 28-day limit applies.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on specific circumstances, consult the Residential Tenancies Authority website..